I echo your sentiment…renting does suck, but it sure helps to ease the pain looking at my bank statements every month! I sold my home in 11/05, about the same as you, and like you haven’t rented for over twenty years. Making the psychological shift was the first step, then counting all the money I’m saving is the second. In my case, my home probably is still a couple of hundred thousand more today than when I sold it (LA county), but from a cash flow perspective, I’m doing OK. And I know sooner or later the cards will fall in LA. Then I’ll be dancing. The hardest thing for me about renting is not being able to show pride of ownership, which is important to me. I’m referring to little things, like being able to drill into the walls to install that killer home theater system, or put in some nice designer drapes, or plant some special fruit trees in the back yard and watch them grow. We are definitely deprived in some ways as renters, but just keep looking at your bank statements and count your blessings.
